USYS Nationals: Philly Area Boys Standouts Day 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships kicked off in Orlando, Florida on Monday and with several of the games being streamed I was able to watch some Philly area teams play. Here are some of the boys that stood out in the games that were streamed live on Monday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Daniel Dixon, Midfielder, YMS Celtic 2008</strong><br>Dixon is hard to miss as a playmaker for Yardley Makefield Soccer whether he’s making plays in open play or setting up chances on dead balls. Dixon drew plenty of attention from Nona Academy in YMS’s first game on Tuesday but he was able to create some of the biggest chances of the game, including the only goal when he darted into the final third and played a ball across the face of goal to Tommy Walsh for the finish. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Billy Burke, Goalkeeper, YMS Celtic 2008</strong><br>Burke had plenty to do to keep the clean sheet for YMS against Nona Academy and while he didn’t necessarily have to make any saves with a high level of difficulty he was a noticeable presence and deserving of a clean sheet on the day.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dominic </strong><strong>Czachor, Center Back, YMS Celtic 2008</strong><strong><br></strong>DC as he is known was his usual aerial threat on set pieces – nearly scoring the Celtic’s first goal off a strong header, but his play in the back was also noticeably strong in one v one and aerial duels. Nationals is a great opportunity for Czachor to challenge himself against top competition so expect to see him with more chances to shine in Orlando.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hector Ortiz, Goalkeeper, FC Europa 2006 Elite</strong><br>Ortiz made a big stop on a blistering free kick and was alert and sharp on the day both when he had to make saves or interventions and also in leading the back line in a 1-0 win over Lou Fuscz Athletic.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kole Wintersteen, Forward, FC Europa 2006 Elite</strong><br>Wintersteen scored the games only goal on a rebound that fell right to his feet in the second half but the game-winner was just reward for a strong showing from the Conestoga attacker. Wintersteen’s hold-up play and size and strength in the attack provided problems for the Lou Fuscz defense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/mattralph_tbg/status/1549444851753697280?s=21u0026t=hHPgZpZOfmeEDKlg3eAbWA","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/mattralph_tbg/status/1549444851753697280?s=21u0026t=hHPgZpZOfmeEDKlg3eAbWA </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kevin </strong><strong>Leiva-Benitez, Midfielder, FC Europa 2006 Elite</strong><br>Leiva-Benitez covered a lot of ground and created a lot in the attack for FC Europa on the day. His strength, aggressiveness and work rate all made him stand out.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>George Ziogas, Midfielder, FC Europa 2006 Elite</strong><br>Ziogas gets a lot of the credit if not an official assist for his work to create the lone goal in a 1-0 win for FC Europa. Ziogas won the ball in midfield, dished it off to a teammate and then ran into the box where he was able to fire off a shot that was too hot for the Lou Fuscz keeper to handle. With tight games like this one at the national level, it takes the work rate Ziogas displayed to make a difference.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cace Oburn, Forward, CASA United 2003</strong><br>CASA ended up losing 2-1 to Baltimore Celtic but their first goal was a thing of beauty. Oburn fired home the finish but Ethan Flickinger deserves kudos for the ball he served and Brady Olsen for the dummy in the box. Oburn also impressed me with his work rate, motor and strength on the ball and in the tackle.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/mattralph_tbg/status/1549616279337816065?s=21u0026t=hHPgZpZOfmeEDKlg3eAbWA","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/mattralph_tbg/status/1549616279337816065?s=21u0026t=hHPgZpZOfmeEDKlg3eAbWA </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aleksander Peev, Midfielder, Lehigh Valley United 2003</strong><br>Peev set up the first goal with a wonderful ball to the far post to find Wilson Bibiano and did a lot of hard running on the day that make him the type of player a coach can count on to leave it all the field, something that was needed in a tight 3-2 win over Albion SC Nevada. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Shay Gillen, Midfielder, Lehigh Valley United 2003</strong><br>Gillen kind of does it all for this team so it was no surprise he was the one stepping up to take the penalty kick to tie the game up 2-2 in the second half. Gillen has size, technical ability and the soccer IQ to carry this team.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->